Fluid collection devices with anatomical fit

Abstract

Examples relate to fluid collection devices, systems, and methods for collecting fluid from a wearer of the fluid collection device. The fluid collection device includes porous material disposed within a fluid impermeable barrier and a means for retaining the fluid collection device in a position for use between the legs of a wearer. A fluid collection system includes a fluid collection device operably coupled to a fluid storage container and vacuum source via one or more sections of conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid collection device, comprising:
 a fluid impermeable barrier having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface at least partially defining a chamber, the fluid impermeable barrier also defining an opening extending therethrough, the opening configured to be positioned adjacent to a urethra; and   a porous material at least partially disposed in the chamber; and   a means for retaining the fluid collection device in a position for use between the legs of a wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid impermeable barrier is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid collection device of any of  claims 1 - 2  wherein the porous material includes:
 a fluid permeable membrane disposed within the chamber and extending across the opening; and 
 a fluid permeable support disposed within the chamber beneath the fluid permeable membrane. 
 
     
     
         4 . The fluid collection device of any of  claims 1 - 3 , further comprising a conduit including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned within the fluid collection device and the outlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid storage container. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid collection device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the fluid impermeable barrier and one or more of the fluid permeable membrane or fluid permeable support define a reservoir therebetween; and 
 the inlet is disposed in the reservoir. 
 
     
     
         6 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the means for retaining includes one or more flanges disposed on the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the one or more flanges extend longitudinally along at least a portion of the fluid impermeable barrier proximate to the opening and extend outwardly from the fluid impermeable barrier a distance of less than 2 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the means for retaining includes a plurality of flanges in the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the plurality of flanges are at least partially malleable. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid collection device of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of flanges include two sets of longitudinally extending flanges separated by a web therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the means for retaining includes texturing formed on the outer surface of the fluid impermeable barrier or disposed over the outer surface of the fluid impermeable barrier. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid collection device of  claim 9  wherein the texturing includes ridges and valleys that make a first portion of the fluid impermeable barrier having the texturing more compressible than a second portion of the fluid impermeable barrier without the texturing. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid collection device of  claim 9  wherein the texturing includes a three-dimensional pattern sized and shaped to create suction between the texturing and a smooth surface when the smooth surface is applied thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid collection device of  claim 11  wherein the three-dimensional pattern includes a repeating diamond pattern with a raised apex in a centroid of at least some diamonds in the repeating diamond pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid collection device of  claim 11  wherein the smooth surface includes skin. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the fluid impermeable barrier at least partially defines a first end region and a second end region of the fluid collection device, wherein the first end region includes an aperture sized and positioned to receive a conduit therethrough; and 
 the means for retaining includes an attachment connected to the fluid impermeable barrier in the second end region. 
 
     
     
         15 . The fluid collection device of  claim 14  wherein the attachment includes longitudinally extending member. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid collection device of  claim 15  wherein the longitudinally extending member includes a plurality of longitudinally collapsing ring segments. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid collection device of  claim 14  wherein the attachment includes an inflatable member. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid collection device of  claim 17  wherein the inflatable member is sized and shaped to expand one or more of longitudinally or radially. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the means for retaining includes the fluid impermeable barrier having a rounded prismatic shape. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid collection device of  claim 19  wherein the opening is located on a corner of the rounded prismatic shape. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1  wherein the means for retaining includes wings extending radially from and longitudinally along the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the wings include porous material. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid collection device of  claim 21  wherein the wings include the porous material having a fluid impermeable backing. 
     
     
         23 . A fluid collection system, comprising:
 a fluid storage container configured to hold a fluid;   a fluid collection device according to any of  claims 1 - 22 ;   a conduit including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being fluidly coupled to the fluid storage container and the inlet being positioned in the chamber; and   a vacuum source fluidly coupled to one or more of the fluid storage container or the fluid collection device via the conduit, the vacuum source configured to draw fluid from the fluid collection device via the conduit.   
     
     
         24 . The fluid collection system of  claim 23  wherein the vacuum source includes one or more of a vacuum pump, a vacuum line, or a hand pump. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid collection system of any of  claims 23 - 24  wherein the fluid storage container includes one or more of a canister or a bag. 
     
     
         26 . A method to collect fluid, the method comprising:
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to a urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining the fluid collection device with a wearer;   receiving fluid from the urethra into the fluid collection device; and   removing the fluid from the fluid collection device via a conduit fluidly connected thereto.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fluid collection device includes:
 a fluid impermeable barrier having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface at least partially defining a chamber, the fluid impermeable barrier also defining an opening extending therethrough, the opening configured to be positioned adjacent to a urethra; and 
 a porous material at least partially disposed in the chamber; and 
 the means for retaining the fluid collection device in a position for use between the legs of a wearer. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein:
 the means for retaining includes a plurality of flanges in the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the plurality of flanges are at least partially malleable; and 
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to the urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining of the fluid collection device with a wearer includes placing at least some of the plurality of flanges in contact with the wearer. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein:
 the means for retaining includes texturing formed on the outer surface of the fluid impermeable barrier or disposed over the outer surface of the fluid impermeable barrier; and 
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to the urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining of the fluid collection device with a wearer includes placing the texturing in contact with the wearer. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein:
 the fluid impermeable barrier at least partially defines a first end region and a second end region of the fluid collection device, wherein the first end region includes an aperture sized and positioned to receive a conduit therethrough; 
 the means for retaining includes an attachment connected to the fluid impermeable barrier in the second end region; and 
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to the urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining of the fluid collection device with a wearer includes placing the attachment in contact with the wearer. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein:
 the means for retaining includes the fluid impermeable barrier having a rounded prismatic shape having one or more rounded corners; and 
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to the urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining of the fluid collection device with a wearer includes positioning one or more rounded corners in a cleft between the legs of the wearer. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein:
 the means for retaining includes wings extending radially from and longitudinally along the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the wings include porous material; and 
 positioning a fluid collection device adjacent to the urethra of a wearer effective to engage a means for retaining of the fluid collection device with a wearer includes one or more of positioning the wings in contact with skin of the wearer or securing the wings within an undergarment of the wearer. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of any of  claims 27 - 32  wherein receiving fluid from the urethra into the fluid collection device includes receiving the fluid in the porous material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any of  claims 27 - 32  wherein removing the fluid from the fluid collection device includes applying suction in fluid collection device with a vacuum source fluidly connected to the conduit effective to suction the fluid from the fluid collection device via the conduit. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the vacuum source is spaced from the fluid collection device and applying suction with the vacuum source includes activating the vacuum source. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fluid collection device includes the fluid collection device of any of  claims 1 - 22 .